Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Government should reserve jobs for Virgin Islanders - Wheatley

Speak out BVI Host says Government needs to again, reserve jobs for Virgin Islanders. Photo: VINO/file
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Virgin Islanders have expressed their concerns in relation to the job shortage existing within their territory and are irritated by the fact that individuals coming from other islands or countries seem to be finding employment while there is a high unemployment rate among Virgin Islanders.

On the local talk show aired May 15, 2012, the host of Speak Out BVI, Douglas Wheatley agreed with one of his callers, where the caller noted that no matter where one goes in Road Town, “Caribbean people are taking over the small and big businesses instead of Virgin Islanders.”

The caller claimed that with so many Caribbean nationals in the VI there isn’t enough space for land or apartments.

Wheatley reminded the caller that back in the 1960’s the Government at that time reserved a number of jobs within the public sector that could have only been accessed by Virgin Islanders.

“I thought this was a very good idea,” said Wheatley.

Mr. Wheatley stated that as time rolled on and the years have passed, the initiative disappeared. He believes it is about time the Government, again should create or reserve a number of areas and that jobs within the Government ministries be opened only to Virgin Islanders.

“I would like to see this implemented in the future.”

He told the public that the priorities in the Territory are mixed up and needs to be fixed.

“Our priorities as a Territory got mixed up with those things that ... should not have been priorities by that time and things that were priorities were left undone.”

He said although one cannot do anything to change the past, the present is still here and through the present, the future can be affected.

“The past is behinds us and written in indelible ink, we can’t erase it or wash it away.”

Wheatley stated that despite everything, everybody living in the VI should embrace each other, work together as a group and as an extended family for what is good and what is in the best interest of all in the VI.

18 Responses to “Government should reserve jobs for Virgin Islanders - Wheatley”

  • insider (21/05/2012, 07:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doug it will get worst under the ndp with a jamacian ps over a local and check what's going on in the hospital to dr georges, the number of island people at the ports, prison, and two jamdown in one ministry alone!!
    • Fact (21/05/2012, 08:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You forgot to mention the Monisters of Government
      • QICK SAND (21/05/2012, 14:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        for real one from antigua and one from angulla...shame on you locals you give away your country next you will have one from JAMDOWN and soon St. Kitts
    • And ... (22/05/2012, 09:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes, the same PS repping the VI overseas very minute. Can a VI person ever rep JA, or any other country for that matter on any issue? And yes, those who will claim that the person has belongers status, could this ever happen in your home country? Can you imagine what those countries think of here?
  • Truth Is (21/05/2012, 08:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think it is time for the commissioner of labour to put a hault on all new working pemits. That ministry needs to overhaul thi situation and make a decision on which is the best way to move forward. We cannot continue to give work permits to expats (especially in those Trust Companies) when we have hundreds of our own people out of work. Times are hard and will get harder. We as country has to now start looking out for our own first. We cannot keep that window open much longer. Some serious decisions has to be made. I am now seeing that our own people are taking jobs they did not want to take before. This is a sign that we are comng to an understanding of what's going on, not just in our country but in the world.
    • Iron Lion (21/05/2012, 15:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      and what happen when you pi$$ off those same trust companies and they lay off the locals already employed and shift parts of their operations overseas then what? you think labour can go to another country and take the jobs back? you all need to stop being so damn simple minded and thinking the financial services world revolved around the BVI. you got a rude awakening sooner rather than later just stay tuned. if you thin it's bad now keep messing around with this local vs expat nonsense rather thana common sense approach. the bvi does not export a damn thing we have no industries. we rely on expats for 90% of our revenue thats tourism and financial services. tell me how any of these industries can survive with this stupid one-sided mentality. in order for locals to benefit there needs to be a partnerhship not selfishness just mind what you ask for. if a company is looking for an accountant but all the locally qualified ones are already in a job what should they do hhire an inexperienced person just becuase they from bvi? these companies come from major jurisdictions around the world bvi isn't their only space and the people at the other jurisdictions can do bvi work as well. with technology and the constant harassment watch how many of these offices will downsize or ship out totally. i see new buildings planning they better think it over, it wont be sweet
  • UK Student (21/05/2012, 09:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are a lot of BVI professionals away. We need to start looking at overseas recruitment to ensure that they return to their home country especially now when things are bad in the states…but also we must treat them right once they get here!
  • Be fair (21/05/2012, 09:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is ok to lament the number of Caribbean nationals here in the BVI. But why is no one talking about the white people. If we are to seriously tackle this problem we should be fair, balance and just.
    • Bolly (21/05/2012, 10:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      We love 'massa' but hate anyone that looks like us. Self hate is alive and well, we have been well trained.
  • dead man (21/05/2012, 09:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come on no one cares about local ppl stop beating a dead horse
  • dude (21/05/2012, 09:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The indigenious locals are tryign to keep the hope alive but the bvilanders sold out the bvi a long time ago
  • Truth Is (21/05/2012, 10:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are BVIslanders who want to come back home but the offers being made by our government for the jobs they apply for are far below what they are paying expats and this cannot continue. Why do we keep offering the expats $5,000 a month plus housing nd living allowances and then turn around and offer your own $4,000 month to do the same job? Something is wrong with this picture...we must offer the same or more to get our people back home.
  • Mack69 (21/05/2012, 11:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I seriously wonder why expats come here in the first place...oh the US dollar. If you realy want to get rid of the Jamaicans, etc., get rid of the US Dollar and take on a BVI currency and you will have the place to yourselves very quickly.
  • Iron Lion (21/05/2012, 11:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doug realize that in 1960 t here wasn't really such a thing as a Belonger? If they dont want people from elsewhere to have anything then abolish the residency, work permit exemption and belonger status, that's all. lol. how can you have a rule where if people marry a local, went school here, live here certain years they will get certain status almost equal to a local but then still balling when people get their status and take advantage of it. pure foolishness man
  • Iron Lion (21/05/2012, 15:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    lololol pure bullshit das why the youngsters cant be any better. of the 3000 government workers you could say 2900 of them are bvislanders so what all the bickering about?
  • jobs for locals (21/05/2012, 23:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the only job now reserved for locals are food service, security, low end government jobs and low end trust company jobs. Too bad these are not the types of jobs that will allow people to live a decent life and raise a family.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.